More free calls and data over Christmas for those in need

By Jackie CoatesDecember 18, 2019

Christmas is a time for connections. Too often, we take the phone in our pocket, the laptop on our desk or tablet in our bag for granted as a means to reach out to those we love. We’re driven to connect every Australian to the ones they love, especially those in need. This year, we’re not only bringing back our free payphone calls over Christmas, but we’re expanding it for anyone who needs it.

Once again, we’re opening up our payphone network to provide free local, national and standard mobile calls from Telstra payphones around the country. On top of the free calls, we’re also making selected Telstra Air Wi-Fi access points free to anyone during this time.

Jana Kotatko, Telstra, and Major Brendan Nottle, The Salvation Army

In previous years, we had opened our payphones from December 24-26, but this year we’re extending the time Aussies can take advantage of the free calls. We’ll be opening our payphone network up from December 24 – 1 January 2020 inclusive.

Last
year, over 120,000 calls were placed during the period. Meanwhile, over 23,000
users connected to our Telstra Air hotspots over the period, with 3.55
terabytes transferred in total. We’re proud to expand the window this year to
ensure more people can connect than ever before.

We’re
driven to ensure that those who are separated from their families by
circumstance, or even those who want to reconnect for the first time in a long
time are given every opportunity on our network. Christmas is a time where
feelings of isolation and loneliness can be at their peak, so we want to bring
families closer together with a simple phone call, text or video call.

Image: Herald Sun

“We know it’s some of the most vulnerable members of our
community who’ll benefit most and we hope they can take this opportunity to
reach out and reconnect with their loved ones over Christmas,” said Major
Brendan Nottle, The Salvation Army.

“A simple phone call could make all the difference this
Christmas and help reconnect Australians doing it tough with their loved ones
or long-lost family or friends.”

We’ll
be spreading the word about this offer far and wide in the lead-up to Christmas
so we can be sure those in need know that a friendly voice is just one free
call away.

Nothing
beats the sound of hearing a loved one’s voice, especially at a time like
Christmas when a focus on families coming together is really heightened. It’s
an important opportunity for those in the community who might be feeling
isolated at this time, and we hope that even more Australians take up the
opportunity to connect with their loved ones this year.

A seasoned community investment leader, Jackie is passionate about enabling social innovation underpinned by digital. Self-described as “analogue at birth but digital by design”, Jackie advocates for the transformative power of tech to solve social problems. As head of the Telstra Foundation, Jackie manages a multi-million dollar community partner portfolio to improve social inclusion outcomes for young people in the areas of mental health; disability; digital making; cyber-safety; and remote, regional and Indigenous communities. Feminist, mother, geek, and grant-maker Jackie juggles many balls and tries hard not to drop the glass ones! Find out more at telstrafoundation.com